The Kennedy Space Center will be closed for business and operations on Monday, Oct. 24, due to the threat from Hurricane Wilma. KSC government and contractor employees should not report for work. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will also be closed.

Today at noon, the Kennedy Space Center was placed in the HurCon II condition which means that KSC employees are being sent home. KSC has completed all necessary preparations for Hurricane Wilma. Facilities and launch pads have been secured, the payload bay doors of the three orbiters have been closed, and the New Horizons spacecraft has been placed inside its protective transportation canister.

KSC will go to HurCon I status (rideout) at 8 p.m. EDT tonight, 12 hours before the expected arrival of 50-knot winds.

On Monday, Oct. 24, the news media codaphone will be updated with current KSC status and may be called at 321-867-2525. News media may also call the public affairs desk at the KSC Emergency Operations Center during the hurricane at 321-867-8550 or 321-867-8551 starting at 6 a.m. EDT on Monday.

Kennedy Space Center employees should keep up to date with hurricane and back-to-work work status by dialing 321-861-7900 or 866-572-4877 (toll free) or on the web at insidenasa.nasa.gov.